FAQ’s

FAQ

We are sure you have a million questions about renting your apartment or house. Living on your own for the first time can be challenging if you are unsure what you are doing. Even if you are a seasoned renter, it is still good to know some basic ground rules. Hopefully, this little FAQ can show you the basics of being a renter with us at H.A. Edwards.

1. When is rent due?
Rent is due on the first day of the month. However, rent is late after the 6th. If the 6th falls on a holiday or the weekend, then rent is late on the first business day after the sixth.

2. How do I pay rent?
You can pay in person at the office located at 2030 9th Street, Monday-Friday from 8:00-5:00. If you can’t get to the office during business hours, you can place a check (no cash) in the drop slot located on the front door. You can also arrange for your bank to automatically draft a check to us. We also accept checks in the mail at:

P.O. Box 20796
Tuscaloosa, AL 35402

3. What forms of payment do you accept?We accept cash, check, and money order, but we do not accept debit or credit cards.

4. How do I turn on my utilities?First, you need to find out what utilities your apartment or house needs, and locate those specific utility companies. We can help you figure that out. Second, you need to have them turned on or transferred in your name. If you are a student, it’s very easy to go through the Off Campus Association (OCA). If you are not a student, you will need to contact each utility company individually. For more detailed info, read Kim’s blog post on connecting utilities here.

5. What do I do if there is a maintenance problem in my apartment?If it’s during office hours, call 345-1440 and the person on the line will be happy to take your request and turn it in. Please be prepared to tell us what apartment you live in, where the problem is occurring, and a detailed description of the problem to give our first-rate maintenance crew. For more detailed info, please read Kate’s post about turning in maintenance requests here.

6. What if I have an emergency maintenance problem?First, determine if it is in fact an emergency. Leaks that might flood the apartment, problems with heating or cooling in severe temperature extremes, defrosting refrigerators, and boarding up windows after a break-in or severe weather are considered after-hour emergencies. If your situation fits, call the main number 345-1440, and an answering service will send out our maintenance crew. If you are unsure if an issue fits the criteria, call the answering service, and a trained technician will help make the determination with you. Just know that if you misrepresent the situation, you will be charged $60.00 per hour if they come out to your apartment or house.

7. What if I am locked out of my apartment?
Again if it’s during office hours, just give us a call and we will send someone out with a key. If it’s after hours, call the answering service and they will send someone out. There will be a lock out fee in such cases. If you need a replacement key, we can get you a new one for the minimal charge of 2 dollars, but for your safety, please bring a picture ID with you to the office.

8. What do I do if I need to move from my apartment or house before the end of my lease?
If you need to move before the end of your lease, you will need to come into our office and fill out a re-let agreement. At that time, there is a 50 dollar re-let fee, so make sure you bring that too. After that you have a couple of options about finding a new tenant, and we can explain that to you in the office or you can visit Kate’s post about reletting here.

9. What if I need to add or remove someone from my lease?Many adding and removal situations can be handled through a written note with signatures of all tenants and co-signers. That is a good option if you want to add or remove someone from an account, but know that they are not financially liable for the term of the lease. If you add or remove someone to/from the lease, then the process is a bit more complicated as the lease has to be re-drawn and additions (and their co-signers) must go through the application process. We can help you determine which option best fits your situation.

10. Can I have pets?
Unfortunately, none of our campus properties allow pets except the 100 building of Cornerstone. If you live in one of the off-campus properties pets are allowed with a 25lbs weight restriction in the apartments. Please know that there are breed restrictions, so check with the front office before obtaining a pet. There is a 300 dollar, non-refundable pet fee and a ten dollar per pet increase in rent.